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ATTENTION: Windows 10 users

Beta 2 build is now available!

If you just upgraded to Windows 10 or running build 10240 or greater of Win 10 pre-release you will need to download and install the new version of ZoneAlarm 14.0.157.000

Problem with ZoneAlarm Pro Trial on Windows 7 64-bit

Not sure where the best place for this is, I'm not using the free version but
the 30-day trial, and I didn't see a forum specifically for generic ZAP issues.

I've used earlier versions of ZoneAlarm on W2K for years and was happy,
but I'm having problems on my new machine. I'm using the latest ZAP
trial, version 9.3.xxx, and Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium.

I have two major problems:

1. Zone Alarm is never showing a "changed program" or "new program"
alert--all alerts are "this program has asked for internet access previously".
Even if I take some junk exe that I compile myself, foo.exe, and run it,
Zone Alarm claims that it has "asked for internet access previously".
Obviously, I'm losing a lot of functionality.

2. Zone Alarm adds every EXE that's run to its list. Why? This issue
I've seen in the forum before, but I can't figure out why it's not
immediately fixed. This happens even when SmartAdvisor is off, and
even at the highest level of program alert.

Finally, I have a question. This there any way to block a program
by service, the way the native Windows 7 firewall can? I.e., a lot of
services are implemented by netsvc.exe, but if I block this exe in
zonealarm, ALL of them get blocked. Is there any way to be more
specific and only block, say, DHCP service?

Re: Problem with ZoneAlarm Pro Trial on Windows 7 64-bit

1. During the first 21 days of ZA has a specific autolearn feature to minimise pop-ups. Known good or unknown are automatically allowed. You can change this under program control. Also MS signed components get automatically access you can change this behaviour under the ZA program control.

2. Yes, it is by design and can't be avoided. This is been like this since the introduction of HIPS in ZA. It has no ill effects on the system nor on ZA. Each executable is monitored for suspicious behaviour not just internet access. This is why it is added.

Yes, you can create expert rules within netsvc.exe or any specific program to block calls such as DHCP. But don't ask me how because I am not using expert rules at all. The only user (oldsod) that had an in-depth knowkledge of this does not contribute here anymore. You can search his posts to learn expert rules.

Re: Problem with ZoneAlarm Pro Trial on Windows 7 64-bit

WRT Item #1, I don't believe you've answered my question. I create my
own APP, foo.exe, and the first time I run it, ZA tells me that it's previously
asked for internet access. It's lying to me. How do I stop that?

Older versions of ZA will say "New Program" when this is done.

I'm not asking how to block it, it does launch a popup where I can decide.
I'm asking why the info the popup is wrong and misleading.

Re: Problem with ZoneAlarm Pro Trial on Windows 7 64-bit

I am sorry I don't understand.... can you post a screenshot?
"ZA tells" you... how? A pop-up?

How do you create the application? Its unique or just some parts of it are changed?
Can you post exactly how we could replicate the issue?

Cheers,
Fax
btw, we are all users here helping each other, since you are on trial you can contact, free of charge, the ZA technical support (link in my signature) and checking with them directly.

I'm referring to the standard yellow & green popup that you get when
a program tries to access a network. It asks "allow" or "deny" and
has a checkbox to remember my decision. I'm sure you know the
dialog I'm referring to.

The problem is that it never says "new program" or "changed program".
In older versions of ZA, if you deleted a program from the list of
programs in ZA, next time it ran, it would say "new program". The
current 9.3.xxx doesn't do this but claims that the program "previously
asked for internet access".

Don't worry first about the "changed program" problem; worry about
the "new program" problem. That's simpler to recreated. One app
I used is lynx.exe from cygwin (but any program that tries to
access the web would work). Firefox.exe also exhibits the problem.
I installed firefox into a new Win 7 machine and the first time ZA
popped the dialog asking whether firefox could access the web,
it claimed it had "previously asked for internet access". I only
tried the more obscure program to make sure it wasn't a white list
issue (even though SmartAdvisor was off).

Re: Problem with ZoneAlarm Pro Trial on Windows 7 64-bit

After I ran Windows calculator, I noticed that ZA had added it to its list
of Apps. Are you saying calculator accesses the internet?

Originally Posted by Forum-Moderator

If this app was ever run on the pc and you made a change to it then ZA is working right by saying the app has changed.

Just to clarify, you saying you created a brand new application that never been made before on your PC and that actully acesses the internet just to test this?

Yeah, that's the whole problem, it never says the APP changed, and
never says it's a new app. The popup always says the app has
asked for access before, and indicates it has not changed (even if it has).

Re: Problem with ZoneAlarm Pro Trial on Windows 7 64-bit

Yes, I can see this. Regardless if the executable is listed in ZA program list, it remembers that you have already run the application on the system.
May be it is just by design in this version? Sorry only ZA staff could confirm this.

I have not tried with new application never installed on the system. But if even in this case it says "repeated" then is a GUI problem/bug.

Re: Problem with ZoneAlarm Pro Trial on Windows 7 64-bit

The older version (something like 5.0) of ZA worked so perfectly, it's hard
to believe any testing at all was done on 9.x when such a glaring fault
is present. Even 5 minutes of running the product would have revealed it.
I verified on a second Windows 7 64-bit system that the problem reproduces.

I say 9.x because it was present in the free version (9.2), in the ZAP
trial, both before and after the update. (so 9.1.xxx, and 9.3.xxx).

To me, the bug is a showstopper and the product shouldn't been released
with such behavior. Perhaps it only shows up on 64-bit and little 64-bit
testing was done?

Re: Problem with ZoneAlarm Pro Trial on Windows 7 64-bit

Actually this release work flawlessly and overall better than any past of the line 9.
I personally could't care less if the message says "repeat" instead of "new". But of course each of us has different priorities

But OK, we are going off topic. All what could be said has been said. Now this should be reported to ZA support directly so it can be escalated.